Circuit breaker



Feb. 5, 1929;

C. AAL'BORG CIRCUIT BREAKER 2l 3 5 RIM fr Gd w O 2 f H 4 m .r 3 n? A /v .Cf mm 9 .1 l m Filed Jan. 8, 1923 ml Vg a Y .Mull III-.

Patented Fcl). 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN AALBORG, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANKA, ASSIGNOB, TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCUTT BREAKER.

Application led January 8, 1923.

My invention. :relates to circuit interrupters and more particularly to the construction of a power station having a plurality ot circuit interrupters in spaced relation.

One object ot my .invention .is to provide a, power station in which the circuit interrupters are placed in vertical relation with minimum door space, and at the expense o1 vertical space.

Another object of my invention is to provide means `for simultaneously controlling the position. of a plurality or circuit interrupters that are in vertical alinement.

It is a` further object of my invention to provide means for the simultaneous disconnection oi: a plurality of circuit inte 'rnpter from electrical circuits and the l, wering o., the saine for repair purposes.

.lt is also an object of my invention to provide a power station in which a plurality oi" circuit interrnpters are placed in vertical alinement, each of the circuit interrnpters controlling` one phase of a pclyphase electrical circuit, with means for simultaneously moving' these circuit interrupters upwardly or downwardly as desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanism for accomplishing the aforementioned objects, the details of which will. be hereinafter set forth at length.

ln power stations as heretofore constructed, it has been customary to place the circuit interruptor-s on the same level or Hoor. This construction calls for a great deal oli floor space, which in congested cities very materially adds to the difficulties ol' erectingr power stations.

By my invention, the circuit inicrinpters are placed in vert-ical alineinent and supported by means connected by a common mechanism., the latter being controlled by a power device that may, :tor convenience, be located approximately in vertical alinement with the circuit in'tcrrupters which it controls.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional. view of a porti o n, of a power station embodying my invention;

Fig- 2 is a` plan view of a circuit interrupter cell embodying' my invention;

is an enlarged rear view of the mech.- tor operatling one the tank-li; jig

f anc Serial No. 611,258.

F el. is a side View of a portion of the mechanism for supporting a circuit breaker and ttor connecting' the casing' parts.

ln the preferred embodiment oit my invention, a power station has a. plurality of floors 2, 3, 4 and 5, or levels. A partition 6 extends horizontally between each pair orn floors, Between each partition 6 and the door therebeneath is placed a circuit interrupter 7. A shaft 9, which extends vertically through the floors 2, 3 and il, and rests on a bearing' 10 on the lower iioor 5, is operatively connected by means of suitable gearing to an electric motor 11, which may, for convenience, be placed on the upper floor 2. The circuit interrupters 7 are arranged to be raised or lowered by tank-lifting mechanisms 12, one of which is shown in enlarged detail in Fig. The tank-lifting mechanisms 12 are all operatively connected to the shaft 9 by suitable gear mechanisms.

Channel beams 13, which extend horizony along the side walls of each circuit interrupter cell, comprise an upper flange lll and al lower liang'e 15. Secured to the walls ot cach circuit interruptor cell, by means of brackets 16, is a quickly detachable supporting and connecting mechanism 17, which may be of any desired form but is preterably of the same general form as vthat shown and described herein. The supporting mechanism 17 comprises a pair of pivoted levers 18 having hooks 19 which co-operate with lugs 20, which may, for example, be integral with the brackets 16 to secure the circuit interrupters 7 in operative position. The supporting mechanisms comprise also connectingr links 21 having screw-threaded portions and nuts thereon for securing the levers 18 in operative positions.

The circuit interrupters 7 may be of any desired type, comprising a cover portion 22 and a tank portion 23, which together constitute a casing. Electrical conductors QA extend through the cover members 22 and terminate at the upper ends thereof in Contact members 25. The contact members 25 coact with Contact members 26 of line conductors 27, that are provided with terminal bushings 28 which are supported by the several partitions 6, The contact members 25 and 26 consti ti disconnecting switifhes that are automatically opened or closed according as the circuit breakers are lowered from or lifted into their normal operative positions.

Each tank 23 is irovided with a flange 30, the diameter' of which is less than that of a co-operating flange 31 of the cover member 22. The diameters of the flange members 30 and 31 are such that the tank member 23 may be actuated upwardly or downwardly without engaging the flange members of the beams 13 while the cover member 22 be raised or lowered only between the limits constituted by the flanges of the beams .13.

rllhe tank-lifting mecl'ianism 12, which is shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 3, comprises a plurality of guides 32 that extend vertically between the several fioors. Each of the pairs of guides 32 is connected by a member 33 and set screws 331. A movable member a, or cross-head, is slidably mounted on the guides 32. The shaft 9 is journaled in both members 33 and 34 of each tank-lifting mechanism 12. A. screw-threaded shaft is mounted centrally of the members and and has a threaded connection with the cross-head 34. The shaft 9 is connected to each of the threaded shafts 35 by moans of gear wheels 33 and 39. The cross-head 3d supports a pair of arms .l1 that are adapted to engage the flange 30 of the corresponding tank 23 when the tank-lifting mechanism is in its uppermost position.

It may be assumed that the circuit interrupters occupy the respective positions in which they are illustrated. vit may be assumed also that it is desired to lower the circuit interrupters for some reason, such, for example, as for inspecting or repairing them. The circuit of the motor 11 is completed by any suitable means (not shown) for operation of the motor in such direction as to raise the arms Ll1 into engagement with the flanges 30 of the corresponding circuit interrupter tanks 23.

The adjusting nuts 42 on the connecting links 21 are manually rotated on the latter to permit the upper ends of the levers 18 to move inwardly and thereby cause the hooks 19 to be withdrawn out of engagement with the flanges 3() of the tank 23. The weight of each circuit interruptor is then supported by the corresponding pairs of arms 4-1.

The motor 11 then operated in such direction as to effect the loweringv of the crosshead 311- and the associated parts, together with the circuit interrupters 7. The initial downward movement of the circuit interrupter effects the separation of the contact members 25 and 26 to insure that the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker is not electrically connected. When the flanges 31 of the cover members 22 engage the lower flanges 15 of the kchannels 13, the cover members 22 and the operating mechanisms of t-he circuit interrupters are supported thereby,

while the tanks 23 and the insulating oil therein may be lowered to expose the mechanism of the circuit interruptor. lf desired, the tanks 23 may be received upon suitable trucks by means of which they may be removed to any convenient or desired location during the inspection and repair of the circuit interruptor mechanism.

TvVhen it is desired to return the circuit breakers to operative position, the tanks are again placed upon the arms stl and the motor operated to effect the raising of the crossheads 34. and the associated parts until the tanks 23 engage the cover members 22. Continued operation of the motor effects the lifting of the entire circuit interrupters until the cover members 22 engage the stationary lugs 20. lhen the circuit interrupters reach this position, the contact members and 26 are again in engagement. The several supporting and connecting mechanisms 17 are then placed in operative position by means of adjusting nuts 12, whereupon the circuit interrupters are supported by means of the hooks 19. rlhe levers 18 operate also to securely clamp the cover members and the tank members together and, by positioning them at the same relative heights, to compensate for any inequalities in the relative distances between the arms 41 and the corresponding channels 13.

It will be appreciated that I have provided system whereby a plurality of circuit interrupters may be simultaneously connected to, or disconnected from, the line conductors of a polyphase electrical circuit. I have provided also a mechanism whereby a single power device is operative to simultaneously raise or lower a plurality of circuit interrupters. These results are accomplished by a mechanism which occupies minimum floor space and that may be controlled by a single switch or other controlling device.

lVhile I have shown and described my invention in its preferred form, it is apparent that modifications may be made in the arrangement of the mechanism for controlling the positions of the circuit interrupters without departing from the spirit of my invention. I desire, therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In electrical apparatus, a plurality of similar circuit interrupters at different levels, adjustable supporting means for the several circuit interrupters at each level, and means for simultaneously operating said supporting means.

2. In electrical apparatus, a plurality of supports, arms carried by said supports, an

electrical device supported by said arms, an electrical terminal secured in spaced relation to said electrical device, a co-operating electrical contact member secured to said electrical device, and means for adjusting the positions ot said arms ivhereby said electrical device may be connected to, or disconnected trom, an electrical circuit.

In electrical apparatus, a plurality of cells at diiiferent levels, each of said cells containing a plurality of supports, arms carried by said supports, means for adjusting the position of said arms, an electrical device supported by said arms, an electrical terminal secured in spaced relation to said electrical device, a tao-operating electrical contact secured to said electrical device, and means for simultaneously actuating' the adj ustinn means `tor a plurality of cells Whereby a plurality ot electrical devices may be siniultaneonslyY connected to, or disconnected from, an electrical circuit.

'l. In combiinition, an electrical device, means :tor adjusting the position ot said electrical device as a unit, and means tor limitinf@y the amount ot travel. otI a portion ot said electrical device and means whereby the movement of the electrical device as a unit connects it to or disconnects it `from an electrical circuit.

In combination, an electrical device comprising a cover portion and a tank portion, adjustable means for supporting and positioning the said electrical device as a unit, and means comprising a channel iron for engaging and limiting the movement of said cover portion between the flanges thereof.

6. In combination, an electrical device comprising a cover portion and a tanlr portion, adjustable means for supporting and positioning the said electrical device as a unit, and means for limiting' the movement of said cover portion comprising projections between `which said cover extends.

7. In. combination, an electrical device comprising a cover portion and a tank portion, means ior adjusting,r the position of said electrical device as a unit, means for limiting the movement ot' said cover portion, and means for simultaneously operating a plurality of similar electrical devices.

8. In combination, a plurality of electrical devices each comprising' a cover portion and a tank portion, means :tor adj usting' the position of said electrical 4devices as units, means for limiting the movement of said cover portions, and means ttor simultaneously actuating a plurality ot said electrical devices, said means comprising a motor and connectingv shat'ting and `sgears.

9. In an electrical device, a plurality of circuit interrupters, and coini'non controlling means therefor comprising a motor and a system of connected mechanical members Whereby said circuit interriniters are simultaneousdisconnected 'from electrical circuits, moved a unit for a certain distance, a portion ot each circuit interrupter is lett in one position, and the remaining portion thereof is then moved to a second position to permit access thereto.

l0. In an electrical apparatus a plurality et circuit .interrupters each ot Which comprises a cover portion and a body portion, and means comprising a motor and a plurality ot' mechanical elements actuated thereby for simultaneously disconnecting said circuit interrupters from their associated electrical circuits, simultaneously moving said circuit interrupters as units for a distance, suspending' the cover portions, and then moving the body portions in order to permit access to the mechanism of each circuit interrupter.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this second day of January, 1923.

CHRISTIAN AALBORG. 

